This program supports the Democracy in Action (DIA) coalition’s domestic election monitoring mission to confirm the fairness of elections, encourage and educate citizens to exercise their voting rights, and increase public confidence in the electoral process.  Democracy in Action (DIA) is a coalition of Kosovar CSOs engaged in election monitoring activities and electoral reform since 2007. In 2017 the coalition became a full member of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO).

Within nine months of the program, DIA will observe three rounds of elections: Parliamentary, Municipal and 2nd run-off of Mayoral Elections of 2017.  The overall number of DIA’s observers, monitors and volunteers is estimated to exceed 5,500 and includes women, people with disabilities and minorities.  Approximately 70 % this contingent is directly supported through USAID funds. For the Parliamentary Snap Elections of 2017, DIA deployed a short-term observer in each polling station throughout the country.

This large-scale domestic observation coalition will work towards achieving the following objectives:

• Ensure political parties abide by the code of conduct and campaign expenditure limitations as well ensure equal and impartial media coverage of political parties during campaigns
• Safeguard the integrity of polling, counting and post electoral process
• Educate and encourage voters to participate in voting process

During the election campaign for 2017 parliamentary and municipal elections, the DIA Secretariat continues to provide support to DIA partner organizations in implementing activities related to:

• Monitoring political party activities
• Monitoring of the media
• Election-Day Monitoring
• Conducting targeted voter education and motivational campaigns
• Publishing election monitoring reports  
• Monitoring and reporting on the post-election phase: adjudication of electoral complaints process

DIA’s impartial reporting on electoral activities will help inform voters on the electoral process and will help in identifying shortfalls in electoral administration and legislation. DIA will work closely with all stakeholders such as election management bodies, political entities, CSOs, the media, and citizens to address such problems and will advocate for reforms in order to advance the electoral process.

Partner: Kosova Democratic Institute (KDI)

Project Duration: May 2017 – February 2018

Contact: Albana Kusari

Geographic Target: Kosovo